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1^^^--^ 


It. 


DISCOURSE  ON  DANCING, 


DELIVERED     IN     THE 


CENTRAL  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


CINCINNATI, 


/ 
/ 

BY  N.  L.  RICE,  D.  D 


PUBLISHED   BY   REQUEST. 


^inctnttatt: 

For  Sale  at  tk  Presbjterian  Book  Depository,  No.  12  West  Fourth  St,  and  W.  H.  Moore, 

Printed  by  Holland  &  Hitchler,  32  West  Fourth  Street. 

1847. 


« 


DISCOURSE  ON  DANCING. 


Rom.  xii.  2. — And  be  not  conformed  to  this  world:  but  be  ye  transformed 
by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and 
perfect  will  of  God."^ 


In  the  preceding  verse  the  Apostle  beseeches  Christians,  by  the 
mercies  of  God,  to  present  their  bodies,  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and 
acceptable  unto  God,  which,  he  says,  is  their  "reasonable  service." 
He  would  have  them  regard  themselves  as  consecrated  to  the  service 
of  God,  as  completely  and  exclusively,  as  was  the  sacrifice  on  the 
Jewish  altar.  That  they  might  do  this,  he  urges  them  not  to  be 
conformed  to  this  world,  but  to  be  transformed,  their  minds  being 
renewed,  that  they  might  understand  and  obey  the  good,  perfect 
and  acceptable  will  of  God.  That  we  may  properly  understand 
and  apply  the  passage  before  us,  we  may  remark' — 

1  —  That  in  the  Scriptures  the  Church  of  Christ  and  the  world 
are  constantly  represented  as  standing  in  opposition  to  each  other. 
"  The  world,"  said  our  Savior,  "  cannot  hate  you  ;  but  me  it  hateth, 
because  I  testify  of  it,  that  the  works  thereof  are  evil."  "Love 
not  the  world,"  says  John  the  apostle,  "neither  the  things  that  are 
in  the  world.  If  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father 
is  not  in  him.  For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the  lust  of  the  flesh, 
and  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  and  the  pride  of  life,  is  not  of  the  Father, 
but  is  of  the  world.  And  the  world  passeth  away  and  the  lust 
thereof:  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  God  abideth  forever."  I 
need  not  attempt  to  adduce  further  proof,  that  conformity  to  the 
world  is  inconsistent  with  piety,  and  will  inevitably  ruin   the  soul. 

2 — Scripture  warnings,  such  as  the  text  and  those  just  quoted, 
as  well  as  the  history  of  the  church,  prove  but  too  conclusively, 
that  the  tendency  of    christians,  and,   therefore,  of  the  church,  is 


ss 


4  ADISCOURSE 


to  Avorldly  conformity.  Tlie  causes  of  this  tendency  are  obvious. 
Christians  very  naturally  desire  to  please  those  unconverted  persons 
with  Avhom  they  are  connected  by  ties  of  kindred  or  of  friendship, 
and  to  secure  the  good  opinion  of  those  whom  they  respect.  And 
they  would  fain  escape  the  reproachful  imputations  of  bigotry  and 
illiberality,  which  will  certainly  be  cast  upon  those  who  separate 
themselves  from  the  world.  Never  is  the  danger  of  conformity  so 
great,  as  when  we  are  urged  by  those  who  profess  great  respect 
for  rehgion,  just  to  participate  with  them  in  those  innocent  amusements ^ 
as  they  are  called,  which,  whilst  they  afford  relaxation  from  the 
cares  and  business  of  life,  surely  injure  no  one.  There  is  in  the 
\  followers  of  Christ  sufficient  remaining  depravity  and  liability  to  err, 
\  to  give  power  to  such  solicitations,  unless  they  are  on  their  guard. 
^        Those  who  hear  me,  will  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  the  declaration 

il  now  make  —  that  one  of  the  chief  reasons  why  the  moral  influence 
of  individual  christians,  and  of  the  church  upon  the  unconverted 
is  not  greater,  is  to  be  found  in  their  conformity  to  the  world.  They 
so  far  transact  their  business  on  worldly  principles,  and  show  such 
an  inclination  to  conform  to  the  fashions  and  seek  the  pleasures  of 
the  world,  that  non-professors  doubt  whether  religion  either  controls 
the  conduct  of  those  who  embrace  it,  or  affords  the  happiness  it 
claims  to  impart.  It  was  evidently  the  purpose  of  our  Savior,  that 
the  line  which  separates  his  church  from  the  world,  should  be  broad, 
and  distinctly  seen ;  that  the  members  of  his  church  should  indeed 
"walk  as  children  of  the  light;"  and  christians  never  more  seriously 
err,  than  when  they  expect  to  secure  the  conversion  of  their  friends 
by  approximating  them  in  their  religious  views  and  conduct.  On 
the  contrary,  there  is  far  better  reason  to  hope  for  their  conversion, 
when  they  are  constrained  constantly  to  see  the  evidence  that  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  "is  not  of  this  world." 

If  these  things  be  true,  then  it  is  evident,  that,  in  enquiring 
concerning  the  lawfulness  and  expediency  of  conformity  to  the  world 
in  any  particular  case,  we  should  not  forget  on  which  side  the  danger 
lies.  Christians  are  warned  solemnly  and  frequently  against  being 
conformed  to  the  world  ;  but  they  are  never  warned  against  too 
great  separation  from  it.  The  conclusion  is  unavoidable,  that  the 
danger  is  all  on  one  side.  For  if  christians  had  been  in  danger  of 
withdrawing  themselves  too  far  from  the  world,  surely  they  would 
have  been  put  on  their  guard.  For  illustration,  in  the  Scriptures 
we  read — "Let  no  man  think  of  himself  more  highly  than  he  ought 


ONDANCING.  5^ 


to  think;  "  but  we  never  read  ■ —  "  Let  no  man  think  more  meanly  of 
himself  than  he  ought  to  think."  Why  do  the  Scriptures  contain 
no  such  warning  as  this  last  ?  Because  there  is  no  danger  that  any 
will  think  too  meanly  of  themselves.  The  danger  is  all  on  one  side. 
Just  so  it  is  with  regard  to  worldly  conformity.  Professors  of  religion 
and  others  ought,  therefore,  to  be  extremely  cautious  in  condemning 
that  strictness  of  discipline  by  which  the  church  of  God  would 
guard  her  members  against  a  worldly  spirit  and  life.  As  the  tendency 
of  things  is  toward  the  world,  there  is  far  greater  danger  that  the 
discipline  of  the  church  will  be  too  lax,  than  that  it  will  be  too  strict. 

The  sin  against  which,  in  the  text,  christians  are  guarded,  is 
being  conformed  to  the  world.  There  are  many  particulars  embraced 
in  this  divine  precept.  1.  They  must  not  be  conformed  to  the  world 
in  faith  and  in  moral  piinciples.  These  the  christian  derives  from 
the  word  of  God,  the  world  does  not.  2.  They  must  not  be  conform- 
ed to  the  world  in  their  affections,  tempers,  and  desires.  3.  Nor  in 
their  deportment.  They  must  "walk  as  children  of  the  light." 
4.  Nor  in  their  amusements  and  pleasures.  On  this  last  subject  I 
wish  to  speak  on  the  present  occasion. 

The  world  have  invented  many  amusements  by  which  to  beguile 
their  tedious  hours,  and  gratify  their  unholy  dispositions;  amongst 
which  I  may  mention  the  Circus,  the  Race,  the  Theatre,  Card-playing, 
and  Dancing.  The  time  would  fail  me  to  speak  particularly  of  all 
these.  I  shall  to-day  confine  myself  chiefly  to  the  last  mentioned. 
Dancing  ;  though  many  of  my  remarks  will  be  equally  applicable 
to  the  others.  In  discussing  this  subject  I  propose,  first,  to  give 
some  account  of  dancing,  as  it  is  spoken  of  in  the  Scriptures;  and, 
secondly,  to  enquire  whether  participation  in  dancing,  as  now 
conducted  as  a  fashionable  amusement,  is  consistent  with  a  christian 
profession. 

First.  —  It  is  certain  that  dancing  of  some  kind  was  practiced  at  a 
very  early  period,  amongst  the  Jews,  and  amongst  other  nations.  In 
regard  to  the  design,  the  occasions  and  the  manner  of  dancing,  we 
remark  — 

1st. —  It  was  considered  a  part  of  religious  service.  Thus  w^e 
read,  that  "Miriam  the  prophetess,  the  sister  of  Aaron,  took  a 
timbrel  in  her  hand;  and  all  the  women  w^ent  out  after  her,  with 
timbrels  and  with  dances.  And  Miriam  answered  them.  Sing  ye 
to  the  Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously:  the  horse  and  his 
rider  hath  he   thrown   into  the   sea."     The  Israelites  had   passed 


«-^ 


6  A    DISCOURSE 


through  the  Red  sea,  the  waters  forming  a  \vall  on  either  side  of 
them ;  and  Pharaoh  and  his  army  pursuing  them  were  overwhehned 
in  the  waters.  Miriam,  accompanied  by  the  Jewish  women,  went 
forth  in  a  procession,  singing  the  praises  of  God,  and  dancing  —  thus 
not  only  by  their  songs  but  by  bodily  action  expressing  their  joy 
and  their  gratitude  to  God.  So  David,  when  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
was  brought  into  Jerusalem,  "danced  before  the  Lord  with  all  his 
might."  He  leaped  for  joy  at  an  event  so  propitious  as  the  return 
of  the  ark,  which  had  long  been  absent.  It  is  to  such  dancing  the 
I  Psalmist  refers,  w^hen  he  says  of  the  children  of  Zion —  "  Let  them 
praise  his  name  in  the  dance:  let  them  sing  praises  unto  him  with 
the  timbrel  and  harp."  Dancing  was  also  considered  amongst  some 
pagans  a  part  of  their  religious  service.  This  practice  seems  to 
have  prevailed  among  the  Egyptians ;  and  therefore  the  Jews  when 
worshipping  the  golden  calf,  feasted  and  danced.  The  same  practice 
existed  also  amongst  the  Romans. 

2d  —  Dancing  was  considered  specially  proper  on  joyful  occasions, 
when  some  imminent  danger  had  been  escaped,  or  some  great  blessing 
enjoyed.  The  Jewish  women  danced  when  the  Egyptians  were 
overthrown,  and  the  people  of  God  delivered.  David  danced  when 
the  ark  was  restored.  In  the  parable  of  the  prodigal,  the  family  are 
represented  as  feasting  and  dancing,  when  he  returned.  Solomon 
refers  to  such  occasions,  when  he  speaks  of  "a  time  to  dance." 

3d  —  Dancing  among  the  Jews  seems  to  have  been  confined  chiefly 
to  females.  At  least,  there  is  no  intimation  that  the  sexes  ever 
danced  together.  Possibly  they  may  have  done  so,  when  they 
worshipped  the  golden  calf.  Miriam  and  the  Jewish  w'omen  sung 
and  danced  at  the  overthrow  of  the  Egyptians.  On  an  annual 
religious  festival,  we  read,  that  the  daughters  of  Shiloh  came  out  "  to 
dance  in  dances."  And  when  David  returned,  after  having  slain 
Goliah,  "the  women  came  out  of  all  the  cities  of  Israel,  singing  and 
dancing,  to  meet  King  Saul,  with  tabrets,  with  joy,  and  with 
instruments  of  music."  The  daughter  of  Herodias,  we  are  told,  on 
a  public  occasion,  displayed  herself  as  a  dancer  before  Herod,  his 
lords,  high  captains,  and  chief  estates  of  Gallilee.  In  doing  so,  she 
proved  herself  as  destitute  of  modesty,  as  of  humanity,  when  after- 
wards she  demanded  as  her  reward  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist.  It 
is  indeed  an  instructive  fact,  that  the  dancing  of  an  immodest  and 
foolish  girl  was  the  immediate  occasion  of  the  death  of  the  greatest 
and  best  man  who  then  had  lived  on  the  earth!     It  was  probably  of 


» 


ON    DANCING 


one  of  those  public  dancers,  such  as  in  our  theatres,  attract  such  crowds  | 
even  of  respectable  persons,  male  and  female,  that  Sallust  spoke,  of  : 
as  "  too  fine  a  dancer  for  a  virtuous  woman."  | 

It  is  evident,  that  in  the  Scriptures  there^is  found  absolutely  nothing  \ 
to  countenance  dancing,  as  conducted  in  our  day.  From  dancing,  as  \ 
practiced  amongst  the  Jews — the  dancing  of  females  alone — we  would  \ 
not  apprehend  any  serious  evils  as  likely  to  result.  Indeed,  it  would  \ 
perhaps  be  found  no  easy  matter  to  awaken  an  interest  in  such  I 
dancing,  amongst  the  youth  of  the  present  day.  ^ 

Secondly  —  We  proceed  now  to  enquire,  whether  dancing,  as  now  | 
conducted  as  a  fashionable  amusement,  can  be  participated  in  by  \ 
christians,  without  sinful  conformity  to  the  world.  Is  it  an  amusement  | 
which  the  church  can  safely  tolerate  in  her  members?  And  is  it  one  in  \ 
which  pious  parents  can,  without  violating  their  most  solemn  vows,  and  \ 
disregarding  their  most  sacred  duties,  have  their  children  instructed? 

Perhaps  it  may  be  well,  first,  to  enquire,  whether  dancing  is  of  any 
very  great  advantage  to  those  who  participate  in  it?  Is  it  a  thing  of 
such  importance,  that  it  cannot  well  be  dispensed  with  ;  and  so  pecuhar 
in  its  desirable  features,  that  no  substitute,  less  objectionable,  can  be 
found?  For  if  it  is  of  essential  advantage;  if  our  children  must  be 
seriously  injured  by  dispensing  with  it ;  we  might  reasonably  hesitate 
to  condemn  it.  But  if  such  is  not  the  fact ;  if  it  is  little  more  than  a 
fascinating  amusement — one  which  might  be  denied  them  without 
serious  detriment;  surely  no  christian  of  proper  feehngs  would  be 
disposed  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  church,  or  to  wound  the  feelings 
of  brethren,  for  the  sake  of  participating  in  it  himself,  or  of  having  his 
children  do  so.  Were  we  to  judge  of  its  importance  by  the  zeal  with 
which  even  some  professors  of  religion  contend  for  it,  and  their 
exceeding  reluctance  to  give  it  up ;  we  should  indeed  regard  it  as 
almost  essential  to  the  enjoyment  of  life  !  WTiat,  then,  are  the  great 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  dancing  ? 

It  will  not  be  pretended,  that  it  is  required  as  a  healthy  exercise  to 
the  young.  For  exercise,  to  be  healthy,  must  be  regular;  it  must  be 
enjoyed  daily.  Dancing  parties  cannot  be  so  constantly  attended. 
Moreover,  no  one  will  pretend,  that  the  excessive  exercise  so  constantly 
taken  at  balls  and  dancing  parties,  in  heated  rooms,  followed  by 
exposure  to  a  cold  night  air,  contributes  to  health.  No  one  acquainted 
with  facts  of  frequent  occurrence,  will  deny,  that  the  health  of  many 
young  females  is  destroyed  by  excessive  exertion  on  such  occasions, 
the  consequent  exhaustion  of  the    system,  and  exposure  to  a  cold 


8  A    DISCOURSE 


atmosphere,  on  leaving  at  a  late  hour,  the  place  of  amusement.  The 
young,  blooming  in  health  and  buoyant  in  spirits,  are  not  aware  of  the 
danger  to  which  they  are  exposed ;  nor  can  the  repeated  admonitions 
of  parents  make  them  rea^ze  it.  The  excitement  produced  by  the 
company,  the  dance,  the  music,  the  prevailing  levity,  banishes  from 
their  minds  all  thought  of  danger  to  health ;  and  fatal  disease  has 
often  seized  on  the  system,  before  the  slightest  apprehension  is  felt. 
Thousands  of  the  gay  and  thoughtless  are  thus  hurried  into  eternity, 
and  thousands  more  drag  through  a  hfe  of  disease  and  suffering.  Of 
all  the  amusements  yet  invented,  there  is  no  one,  so  far  as  I  know,  in 
which  the  health,  especially  of  females,  is  so  much  endangered.  I 
cannot  but  wonder,  that  prudent  parents  do  not  see  the  risk  they  run 
in  having  their  children  taught  to  seek  pleasure  in  the  excitement  of 
the  ball  room.  Could  they  forgive  themselves,  if  called  to  bury  a 
beloved  daughter,  in  consequence  of  exposure  in  attending  a  dancing 
party  or  a  ball? 

Dancing  is  not  necessary  as  an  amusement.  I  cheerfiiUy  admit,  that 
the  mind, — especially  of  the  young — should  not  be  kept  constantly 
employed  either  in  study  or  in  business ; — that  relaxation  is  desirable 
and  necessary.  But  in  this  matter,  children  ( and  if  dancing  is  ever 
harmless,  it  is  among  children, )  can  take  care  of  themselves.  They 
require  relaxation,  as  also  do  adults,  much  more  frequently  than 
dancing  parties  can  be  attended,  and  their  minds  are  fruitful  in 
inventing:  or  learning?  amusements.  You  never  saw  half  a  dozen  of 
them  together,  at  a  loss  for  something  to  amuse  them.  And  surely  no 
one  will  pretend,  that  adults,  young  gentlemen  and  ladies,  can  find  no 
suitable  relaxation,  but  in  dancing.  Reading,  w^alking,  riding,  social 
intercourse,  &c.  are  abundantly  sufficient.  And  if,  in  spending  a 
social  evening,  conversation  becomes  dull,  and  the  time  drags  heavily; 
we  cannot  but  think,  it  may  be  well  to  separate  and  add  to  the  stock 
of  ideas. 

But  it  is  said,  dancing  is  quite  important,  inasmuch  as  it  gives  to 
the  young  a  graceful  carriage,  not  easily  attained  other\vise.  Of  this 
I  would  not  pretend  to  be  a  very  competent  judge;  nor  would  I  at  all 
undervalue  such  an  accomplishment.  I  cannot  but  think,  however, 
that  it  w^ould  require  quite  a  critic  in  the  graces,  to  determine  which 
of  several  young  persons,  otherwise  equally  well  educated,  had  learned 
to  dance.  Indeed,  I  doubt  very  much  whether  parents  generally  send 
their  children  to  the  dancing  school,  or  whether  their  children  dance 
chiefly  for  this  particular  reason.     Whether  they  do  or  not,  if  there  be 


^9 


®- 


ON    DANCING.  9 


valid  objections  to  dancing  as  now  practiced, — if  it  be  inconsistent 
with  the  profession  and  practice  of  true,  elevated  piety, — and  if  it  be 
morally  and  religiously  injurious  to  the  young,  all  must  acknowledge 
that  a  graceful  carriage  should  be  sought  in  some  other  way. 

But  the  question  is  asked — why  do  you  object  to  dancing.^  What 
sin  is  there  in  it  ?  Wliy  must  you  be  so  illiberal  and  bigotted  as  to 
oppose  an  amusement  so  graceful,  and  so  agreeable  to  the  young .'' 
WTiy  so  unreasonable,  as  to  deprive  them  of  pleasures  they  so  much 
desire.'  To  these  questions  I  proceed  to  reply.  And  allow  me  to 
say  — 

1  —  That  I  am  far  from  being  disposed  to  condemn  that  which  is 
innocent,  and  equally  far  from  desiring  to  deprive  the  young  of  one 
solid  enjoyment.  I  would  that  their  pleasures  were  an  hundred  times 
greater  than  they  are ;  and  for  this  reason  I  oppose  the  fashionable 
dancing  of  the  day.  I  am  sure,  there  are  objections  to  it,  which  in 
maturer  years,  if  not  now,  they  will  appreciate — especially  should 
they  ever  become  devoted  christians. 

2 — I  know,  that  in  attempting  to  prove  the  impropriety  of  dancing, 
I  labor  under  serious  disadvantages  in  regard  to  a  part  of  the 
community,  perhaps  a  part  of  my  audience.  For  many,  especially 
amongst  the  young,  have  become  so  fascinated  with  it,  that  they 
cannot,  with  any  degree  of  impartiality,  hear  and  weigh  the  arguments 
advanced;  and  yet,  like  all  others  under  the  influence  of  prejudice, 
they  are  not  at  all  aware  of  the  extent  to  which  their  judgments  are 
warped  by  their  feehngs.  Again  —  many,  having  no  experience  of 
reUgion,  can  form  no  proper  judgment  concerning  what  might  promote 
or  injure  personal  piety.  Nothing  is  more  certain,  than  that  the 
rehgious  opinions  and  views  of  every  individual  converted  to  God, 
undergo  a  great  and  radical  change.  "Old  things  are  passed  away; 
behold,  all  things  are  become  new."  Things  before  admired,  are 
disapproved  ;  and  those  formerly  regarded  as  quite  innocent,  are  often 
deemed  deeply  sinful.  It  would  be  strange  if  it  were  not  so,  since 
eveiy  real  christian  has  been  "called  out  of  darkness  into  marvellous 
light;"  and  since  "  many  things  highly  esteemed  among  men  are 
abomination  with  God." 

But  notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  under  which  I  must  present 
this  subject  to  the  minds  of  some,  I  think,  I  shall  be  able  to  satisfy 
the  impartial,  that  to  participate  in  the  dancing  of  the  present  day,  is 
to  be  conformed  to  the  worid,  and  that  Christians  who  encourage  their 
children  to  dance,   do  throw   great   obstacles  in  the   way  of  their 


10  A    DISCOURSE  I 

conversion,  and  do  violate  their  solemn  covenant  to  "  train  them  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord." 

We  do  not  object  to  the  mere  bodily  exercise  of  dancing,  nor  to 
dancing  after  music.  In  the  mere  exercise  there  is  nothing  good  or 
evil.  But  we  object  to  it  as  now  conducted,  with  its  attendant 
circumstances  and  influences.  These,  taken  together,  we  are  con- 
strained to  regard  as  most  unfriendly  to  true  religion;  as  wholly 
inconsistent  with  that  devoted  piety  which  the  Scriptures  require  all 
to  cultivate,  and  which  is  essential  alike  to  their  happiness  and  their 
usefulness. 

I  proceed  to  prove,  that  dancing,  as  now  conducted,  presents 
temptations,  numerous  and  strong,  to  levity,  vanity,  impinidence,  and 
irreligion.  And  if  it  does,  it  evidently  cannot  receive  the  countenance 
of  consistent  christians.  They  are  in  the  habit  of  praying  daily, 
"lead  us  not  into  temptation;"  and,  they  know  they  cannot  con- 
sistently offer  this  prayer,  and  then  needlessly  go  where  they  are  sure 
to  be  tempted.  As  well  might  they  pray,  —  "give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread,"  and  then  neglect  all  the  means  by  which  food  can  be 
secured.  It  is  our  duty  to  watch,  as  well  as  to  pray.  Means  must 
be  employed  to  avoid  the  evil,  as  well  as  to  secure  the  good.  And 
certainly  no  pious  parent  would  be  willing  to  place  his  children  under 
the  influence  of  temptation  to  irreligion  and  sin  ;  for  to  his  grief  he  is 
constrained  to  see,  that  even  under  influences  the  most  favorable,  they 
are  strongly  inchned  to  wander  from  the  path  of  virtue. 

I  am  aware,  that  there  is  some  difficulty  in  the  discussion  of  this 
subject,  arising  from  the  various  phases  it  assumes,  from  the  family 
dance  in  the  parlor  of  a  professor  of  religion,  under  the  eye  of  the 
head  of  the  family,  to  the  gayest  and  most  brilliant  ball,  and  even  the 
masquerade  dance.  We  labor  under  the  same  difficulty  in  showing  the 
sinfulness  of  card-playing,  horse-racing,  and  the  theatre.  It  might  be 
difficult  to  prove  it  a  sin  in  itself  for  a  few  young  persons  to  amuse 
themselves,  an  hour  or  two,  by  playing  at  cards.  We  know,  however, 
that  it  is  an  attractive  and  exciting  amusement ;  that  when  once  our 
children  have  become  pleased  with  it,  they  are  likely  to  yield  to  the 
suggestion,  that  by  risking  a  few  cents,  additional  interest  will  be 
imparted  to  the  game  ;  and  we  know,  that,  having  gone  thus  for,  they 
are  fairly  introduced  to  the  gaming  table,  and  that  they  are  likely 
enough  to  become  regular  gamblers.  We  proceed,  therefore,  upon 
the  Latin  adage  "  obsta  principiis,^^  —  resist  the  beginnings  of  evil. 


ONDANCING.  11 


Or  rather,  we  are  guided  by  the  word  of  inspiration  —  "  Abstain  from 
all  appearance  of  evil." 

It  must  be  admitted,  too,  that  all  theatrical  performances  are  not 
necessarily  evil.  Dramatic  pieces  might  be  written  without  an 
objectionable  sentiment ;  and,  for  the  amusement  of  the  young,  they 
might  be  performed  in  the  private  parlor  or  elsewhere.  But  we  know, 
that  theatrical  performances  are  very  attractive.  We  also  know 
something  of  the  history  of  theatres ;  and  we  know,  that,  so  far  from 
being,  as  their  advocates  pretend,  schools  of  morals,  they  have  been, 
in  every  age  and  country,  the  hot-beds  of  vice —  the  places  where  the 
principles  of  youth  have  been  corrupted,  their  evil  passions  excited, 
and  where  multitudes  of  the  most  promising  have  taken  the  first  step  to 
infamy  and  ruin.  And,  theorise  as  you  may,  it  is  impossible  to 
improve  the  character  of  the  theatre.  The  great  majority  of  the 
patrons  of  the  theatre  will  ever  be  the  gay,  the  dissipated,  the  irreli- 
gious and  the  unchaste  ;  and  the  writers  of  plays  and  play-actors  will 
ever  cater  to  the  corrupt  taste  of  those  from  whom  they  expect  their 
chief  patronage.  Knowing,  therefore,  what  has  been,  and  what  must 
be  the  character  of  the  theatre,  the  enlightened  and  consistent  christian, 
far  from  attending,  or  having  his  children  attend  it,  will  stand  in  the 
attitude  of  firm,  uncompromising  opposition. 

On  the  same  general  principle  we  oppose  dancing,  as  now  con- 
ducted. Suppose  Ave  admit,  that  there  is  nothing  improper  in  the 
family  dance  in  your  parlor;  we  know  perfectly  well,  that  this  is  but 
the  commencement  of  the  difficulty.  Your  children  learn  to  dance; 
they  are  delighted  with  dancing,;  you  have  admitted  that  there  is 
nothing  improper  in  it ;  and  now  that  the  principle  is  conceded,  they 
will  carry  it  out  for  you.  And  you  will  find  it  no  easy  matter  to 
prove  to  them,  that  dancing  in  the  parlor  is  proper  enough,  but 
dancing  in  a  large  and  elegant  ball-room,  quite  sinful.  They  will 
attend  balls,  the  gayest  and  most  brilliant  of  them;  and  you  cannot 
prevent  it.  You  have  introduced  them  to  an  amusement  of  the  most 
fascinating  character;  you  have  conceded  and  contended  that  dan- 
cing is  not  wrong ;  and  now  that  they  have  reached  the  age  when 
they  claim  to  act  for  themselves,  they  will  pay  little  regard  to  your 
prudent  advice.  It  is  like  the  temperate  use  of  ardent  spirits. 
When  once  the  taste  is  formed,  counsel  is  in  vain.  We,  therefore, 
take  dancing  as  it  has  been,  as  it  is,  and  as  it  will  be;  and  we 
oppose  it.  The  parlor  dance  is  the  beginning  of  evil,^ — the  begin- 
ning of  an  evil  not  to  be  controlled,  if  at  all  countenanced. 


«' 


12  A    DISCOURSE 


But  I  must  now  present  those  considerations  which  induce  me 
to  oppose  dancing. 

1. — Dancing,  as  now  conducted,  is  an  extremely  fascinating 
amusement.  For  days  before  one  of  your  balls,  how  completely  it 
takes  possession  of  the  gay  dancers.  The  selection  and  arrangement 
of  articles  of  dress,  the  company  they  are  to  meet,  the  display  they 
are  to  make,  exclude  almost  every  thing  else  from  their  minds ;  and 
then  for  days  afterwards,  the  scenes  and  occurrences  of  the  evening 
furnish  themes  of  thought  and  conversation.  When  a  student,  and 
afterwards  a  teacher  in  College,  I  observed  that  few  young  men 
who  danced  graceftdly,  stood  well  in  their  classes,  or  graduated  with 
honor.  They  were  delighted  with  the  excitement  of  the  ball  room; 
their  graceful  motion  was  complimented  by  the  ladies  ;  and  by  intense 
excitement  and  consequent  prostration,  they  WTre  wholly  disqualified 
for  study.  Thus  every  ball  that  occurred,  would  cause  them  the  loss 
from  study  of  several  days.  I  have  observed  the  same  thing  in  female 
schools ;  and  I  have  known  experienced  teachers  positively  refiise 
to  instruct  young  ladies  who,  at  the  same  time,  proposed  to  attend 
either  dancing  schools  or  dancing  parties. 

Now  I  submit  it  to  the  judgment  of  every  reflecting  mind,  whether 
it  is  wise,  whether  it  is  proper  to  select  for  our  children  amusements 
which  are  so  likely  to  disqualify  them  for  useftd  employments.  And 
I  submit  to  every  Christian,  to  every  parent  who  desires  the  conver- 
sion of  his  children,  whether  an  amusement,  which  so  completely 
excludes  from  the  mind,  for  the  time  being,  sober  thought  and 
reflection,  can  be  favorable  to  permanent  religious  impressions.  Can 
we  hope  for  their  conversion,  unless  they  can  be  induced  "  to  consider 
their  ways,"  to  think  seriously  and  seek  earnestly  the  salvation  of  their 
souls. 

2.  —  The  different  steps  or  dances,  like  the  fashionable  plays  of 
the  day,  are  arranged  and  directed  by  those  who,  for  their  prudence 
and  modesty,  have  no  claims  whatever  to  our  confidence.  Their  aim 
is  to  please  those  from  whom  they  expect  their  chief  patronage  ;  and 
they  are  not  generally  remarkable  for  that  prudence  with  which  a 
christian  would  be  satisfied.  It  cannot  be  denied,  that  in  some  of 
the  fashionable  dances,  liberties  are  taken,  and  are  expected  to  be 
taken,  by  gentlemen,  which  at  other  times  would  be  offensive.  Take 
in  connection  with  this,  another  fact,  viz : 

3.  —  That  dances  and  balls  are  generally,  if  not  always,  conducted 
by  the  young,  the  thoughtless,  the  gay,  the  irreligious.     Sober  persons 


ON    DANCING.  13 


may  occasionally  or  even  frequently  attend  ;  but  they  are  not  present 
in  such  numbers  or  with  such  firmness  as  to  give  character  to  them. 
This  is  one  of  the  amusements  which  properly  belongs  to  the  world  ; 
and  rightly  enough  the  world  claims  to  manage  its  own  pleasures. 
Christians  and  their  children,  therefore,  if  they  participate  in  them 
at  all,  must  be  conformed  to  the  world. 

Now,  these  things  being  so,  let  me  ask  considerate  christians, 
and  especially  christian  parents,  what  assurance  they  can  have,  that 
things  will  be  conducted  in  the  dances,  with  becoming  prudence  and 
modesty.'*  Will  there  be  prudence  as  to  the  tijne  spent?  How  often 
are  they  continued  until  after  midnight  ?  What  would  be  said, 
if  christians  should  venture,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  powerful  revival, 
to  protract  religious  services  to  such  an  hour?  Their  fanaticism 
would  be  proclaimed  throughout  the  city ;  and  all  prudent  people, 
and  especially  the  irreligious,  would  cry  out  against  them.  It  is,  by 
the  way,  a  little  remarkable,  that  not  a  few  of  those  who  can  remain 
till  so  late  an  hour  at  the  theatre  and  in  the  ball  room,  strongly 
disapprove  of  religious  services  in  the  evening,  and  are  quite  unwilling 
for  their  families  to  attend  them !  Yet  the  exposure  of  health  in  the 
ball  room,  and  in  leaving  it,  is  tenfold  greater — so  great  that,  as 
already  remarked,  not  a  few  females  lose  their  health  and  their  lives 
by  it. 

Is  there  any  assurance,  that  the  dance  will  be  conducted  in  a 
prudent  manner  ?  Ladies  who  attend  such  places,  must  dress 
fashionably  ;  and  we  certainly  know  that  Madam  Fashion  is  not  one 
of  the  most  prudent  ladies,  particularly  w^hen  she  displays  her  taste 
on  special  occasions.  There  are,  too,  as  already  remarked,  certain 
dances  in  which  liberties  are  taken  which  no  prudent  lady  w^ould 
allow  at  other  times  ;  and  they  are  taken  by  those  who  have  no 
just  claims  to  intimacy.  Your  daughter  may,  if  she  have  reflection 
enough,  disapprove  of  these  dances  ;  but  she  has  gone  to  one  of  the 
world's  amusements;  and  she  will  probably  not  be  wilhns:,  by 
objecting  to  them,  to  expose  herself  to  the  sneers  of  those  who  might 
intimate,  that  she  is  modest  overmuch.  But  the  young,  excited  as 
they  are  in  the  ball  room,  are  not  likely  to  indulge  in  much  reflection. 
You  cannot  put  old  heads  on  young  shoulders ;  and  if  you  could, 
they  would  not  dance  at  all.  Those  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  read 
Addison's  views  of  dancing,  will  see  that,  without  wholly  condemning 
it,  he  strongly  objected  to  the  manner  in  which  it  was  often  conducted. 


14  ADISCOURSK 


and  presented  some  thoughts  bearing  on  the  general  subject,  which 
prudent  persons  and  especially  parents,  would  do  well  to  consider. 

I  have  said,  that  dancing  is  a  worldly  amusement,  and  is  controlled 
by  the  worldly,  the  gay,  the  thoughtless,  the  irreligious.  WTien 
professing  christians  allow  themselves  to  participate  in  this  amusement, 
they  become  identified  in  fact  and  in  feeling  with  this  class  of  the 
community.  They  throw  themselves  into  an  atmosphere  which  is 
most  unfavorable  to  the  cultivation  of  piety.  They  place  themselves 
in  a  circle  from  which  serious  conversation  on  religious  subjects  is, 
by  general  consent,  excluded  ;  and  where  the  excitement  of  the  music, 
the  dance,  the  company,  the  wine,  all  tend  to  produce  the  highest 
I  degree  of  levity.  I  defy  the  christian  who  has  any  degree  of  spiritu- 
'/  ality,  to  mingle  in  such  a  scene,  \\ithout  feeling  himself  seriously 
I  injured,  almost  wholly  disqualified  for  religious  devotion.  Let  him, 
I  after  spending  an  evening  in  this  way,  retire  to  his  closet  for  the 
i  purpose  of  reading  the  Word  of  God,  and  offering  the  evening  sacrifice 
i  of  prayer,  thanksgiving  and  praise.  His  own  experience,  one  would 
'i  think,  would  be  sufficient  to  determine  him  never  to  spend  a  second 
j  evening  in  the  same  way.  The  absence  of  devotional  feeling,  and 
I  the  distraction  caused  by  wandering  thoughts,  constrain  him  to  feel,  that 
\  his  religious  exercises  are  little  better  than  a  solemn  mockery,  and  that 
his  soul  is  unrefreshed.  It  was  from  feeling  the  sad  effects  of  such 
scenes,  that  that  eminent  servant  of  God,  Rev.  R.  M.  McCheyne,  of 
Scotland,  at  an  early  period  of  his  christian  experience,  wrote  in  his 
diary —  "  This  last  bitter  root  of  worldliness  that  has  so  often  betrayed 
me  has  this  night  so  grossly,  that  I  cannot  but  regard  it  as  God's 
chosen  way  to  make  me  loathe  and  forsake  it  forever.  I  would  vow; 
but  it  is  much  more  like  a  weakly  worm  to  pray.  Sit  thou  in  the  dust, 
0  my  soul."  To  me  it  is  not  at  all  surprising,  that  the  gay  and 
thoughtless  delight  in  the  excitement  and  the  levity  of  the  dance; 
for  whilst  it  affords  them  the  kind  of  pleasure  they  reUsh,  it  is 
admirably  adapted  to  banish  from  the  mind  those  sober  reflections  to 
which  they  are  so  averse.  But  how  a  christian  can  enjoy  it,  I  profess 
myself  wholly  unable  to  conceive.  I  certainly  do  not  understand  the 
religious  feelings  of  such.  I  stand  in  doubt  of  them.  Let  me  ask 
such  persons,  whether  before  going  to  a  dance,  they  can,  with  a  good 
conscience  and  in  faith,  ask  their  Savior  to  be  with  them,  and 
to  accompany  the  exercises  of  the  evening  with  his  blessing  ?  Can 
they  pray —  "Lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil.-"' 
And  suppose  it  were  proposed,  after  the  last  set  have  danced,  to  sing 


ON    DANCING.  15 


a  hymn  and  offer  prayer  to  God  before  the  company  should  disperse  ; 
would  not  even  they,  professors  of  religion  though  they  are,  feel  that 
there  was  a  singular  incongruity  in  closing  such  exercises  in  such    \ 
a  way?     It  is  a  most  salutary  rule  adopted  by  Dr.  Watts,  and  by  him    \ 
recommended  to  others,  never  to  do  any  thing  upon  which  he  could 
not,  or  upon  which  he  did  not,  ask  the  blessing  of  God.  | 

But  there  are  professing  Christians  who  tell  us,  they  have  no  '. 
taste  for  such  amusements,  but  who  are  quite  ready  to  have  their  I 
children  taught  to  dance,  and  to  send  them,  dressed  in  the  extreme  ^ 
of  the  fashion,  to  dances  and  balls.  They  thus  throw  them  into  j 
the  society  of  the  worldly,  the  gay,  the  irreligious;  and  from  the  I 
very  fact,  that  in  that  circle  they  find  the  warmest  advocates  of  l 
their  favorite  amusement,  and  the  most  graceful  dancers,  they  be-  < 
come  identified  with  them  in  feeling,  and  make  them  their  most  \ 
intimate  associates.  '■'■Evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners.'^''  \ 
It  is  impossible  that  the  sentiments  of  your  children  shall  not  be  < 
influenced,  and  their  habits  and  characters  formed,  to  a  great  extent, 
by  the  society  they  choose.  And  by  no  class  of  intelligent  people 
is  true  religion  treated  with  less  respect,  or  the  gospel  more  lightly 
spoken  of,  than  by  those  who  most  dehght  in  the  giddy  dance. —  \ 
There  may  be  exceptions ;  but  the  general  rule  I  know  to  be  as  I  ', 
have  stated.  Would  you  have  your  children  think  more  of  the  \ 
latest  fashions,  graceful  carriage  in  the  ball-room,  the  theatre,  and  \ 
the  novel,  than  of  religion  and  eternity;  teach  them  to  dance,  and  \ 
throw  them  into  this  gay,  thoughtless,  Christless  circle.  And  if  they 
soon  talk  skeptically  of  the  Bible,  and  disrespectfully  of  true  rehgion, 
be  not  surprised. 

There  is  no  duty  devolved  on  religious  parents,  more  important, 
and  upon  which  the  piety  and  the  happiness  of  their  children  more    | 
depend,  than   the  selection    of   the    society  in  which    they   are   to 
mingle.     There  are  multitudes  of  the  most  unprincipled,  dissipated    ^ 
and  worthless  young   men,   who   can   display  themselves   to  great    \ 
advantage  in  the  ball-room.      Their  connexions   and   their  wealth   . 
give  them  a  respectable  standing  in  society.     Your  daughters,  unac- 
quainted with  their  true  character,  pleased  with  their  polished  man-    \ 
ners,  and  deceived  by  the  flattery  they  know  so  w^ell  how"  to  employ,    \ 
form  attachments  you  cannot  control,  and  which  make  them  wretched    \ 
through  life.      Nor   are  the  most  graceful   dancers   amongst   young    \ 
females,  those  who  will  best  fill  the  important  station  of  wives  and 
mothers.  \ 


16  A    DISCOURSE 


9 


The  introduction  of  children  to  this  fascinating  amusement,  and  | 

to  the  circle  where  it  is  most  prized,  places  a  mighty  obstacle  in  the  \ 

way  of  their  conversion.     I  am   aware,  that  many  religious  parents  j 

desire  to  have  their  children  dance,  not  for  the  sake  of  the  amuse-  \ 

ment  itself,  but  because  it  is  commonly  practiced  in  the  circle  into  \ 

which  they  would  introduce  them.     But  they  would  do  well  first  to  < 

consider  the  effect   this    course   is    likely  to    produce   in  hindering  > 

their  conversion  to  God.     That  their  children  may,  at  an  early  age,  I 

become  true  Christians,  is  certainly  the  chief  desire  of  all  truly  pious  i 

parents;    and   most   solemnly  have   they  covenanted  to  use  all  the  \ 
means  of  divine  appointment  to  secure  this  desirable  result.      Are 

they,  then,  at  liberty — will  their  feehngs  or  their  principles  allow  \ 

them,  for  any  worldly  consideration,  to  place  them  under  powerfiil  \ 

influences  adapted  to  harden  their  hearts,  and  neutrahze  all  God's  j 

means  of  grace  ?  I 

Not  only  will  their  sentiments  and  habits  be  influenced  by  their  \ 
thoughtless  and  pleasure-seeking  associates,  but  their  attachment  to 

them,  and  their  familiarity  with  them,  will  be   one  of  the  most  ef-  \ 
fectual    reasons   why  they  will    not    think   seriously,  and  why  they 

will  struggle  to  smother  any  convictions  which  the  Word  and  the  | 

Spirit  of    God  may  fasten  upon  their  minds.     Human  nature  does  / 

not  easily  bear  the  taunting  remark — "Such  a  one  is  becoming  quite  > 

religious ;  her  face  is  getting  very  long ;  she  is  too  conscientious  to  j 

dance."     "What  numbers  of  young  persons  have  plunged  into  scenes  \ 

of  gaiety  and  dissipation,  which  they  could  no  longer  enjoy,  for  the  | 

express  purpose  of  concealing  and  of  smothering  those  deep  convic-  I 

tions  impressed  by  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  their  souls.      And  how  ; 
many  have  avoided  every  place  where  such  impressions  were  likely 

to  be  made.      "  What  will   my  associates  think  ? — what   will  they  j 
say  .'"'     These  are  the  inquiries  suggested  to  those  who  have  moved 

in  the  gay  and  thoughtless  circle,  when  the  first  serious  impressions  I 

are  fastened    upon   their   minds;    and   often   they   are    sufficient   to  j 

determine  them  not  to  yield  to  their  convictions.     How  much  less  j 
difficulty  would  they  feel,  had  they  been  accustomed  from  childhood, 

to  refuse  on  principle  to  conform  to  the  world,  and  to  participate  in  | 

its  levity  and  folly.     Then  they  would  not  be  ashamed  to  have  it  I 

known,  that  they  are  seeking  to  do  their  duty.  | 

I  have  alluded  to  the  feverish  excitement  and  the  levity  of  the  j 

ball-room.     Few  things  are  so  well  adapted  to  dissipate  all  serious  j 
reflections,   and   eradicate    religious   feelings.      I  do  not    object   to 


ON    DANCING.  17 


cheerfulness  in  the  young ;  but  levity — that  levity,  which  revels  un- 
controlled in  the  ball-room,  is  folly  unbecoming  rational  and  ac- 
countable beings.  If  deep  religious  impressions  should  be  made  on 
the  mind  of  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  members  of  this  church,  by  the 

solemn  exercises  of  the   Sabbath;  and  if  during  the  week,   one  of  \ 

your  dances  should  be  attended  by  her;   I  should  have  little  hope  \ 

of  finding  her  thoughtful  on   the  following  Sabbath.      It  is  indeed  \ 
possible  that  the  Spirit  of  God  may  follow  her  into   the   scenes  of 
gaiety  and  folly,  and  distress  her  there;  but  there  is  great  reason 

to  fear  his  final  withdrawal  from  the  soul.      Those  who  will  trifle,  \ 

wiien   the  Holy  Spirit  is  bidding  them  pause    and    "  consider  their  ) 

ways,"  must   expect  to  be    abandoned   to   their   own   hardness    of  | 

heart.      And    will   not    your    daughter,    accustomed   to    dance,    be  \ 

prevailed  on  to  go,  even  though   deeply  convinced  that  she   ought  \ 

not?     Is  she  likely  to  resist,  when  her  young  associates  gather  round  \ 

her,  and  first  entreat,  and  then  taunt  her  with  being  serious  ?     She  is  \ 

now  powerfully  tempted,   and  will  in    all    probability  yield.      Wlio  \ 

exposed  her  to  this  temptation?     Her  parents,  who  had  her  taught  \ 

to  dance,  and  introduced  her  to  this  gay  and  ungodly  circle;   and  \ 

they  will  be  responsible  for  the  result.  j 

This  is  not  all.     Wlien  your  children  shall  think  of  the   duty  of  \ 


becoming  members  of  the  church  on  their  owti  profession,  will  they  \ 

not  hesitate  long,  before  they  will  agree  to  part  with  the  gay  circle  \ 

and  the  fascinating  dance  ?     And   this  is  a  sacrifice,  which,  if  they  \ 

become  Presbyterians,  they  must  make.     Our  church  has,  from  the  \ 

beginning,  taken  her   stand  on  this  subject;    and  I  verily  believe,  \ 

she  will  never  recede  from  it.     Particular  churches  may  be  lax  in  \ 

discipline  ;  but  that  the  Presbyterian  church  will  ever  tolerate  dancing  \ 

in  her  members,  is  not  to  be  expected.     Read  the  answer  to  the  | 

139th  question  in  the  larger  Catechism,  and  see  what  she  thinks  of  it.  \ 

Is  it  wise,  is  it  right,  for  Presbyterians  to  place  their  children  under  \ 

such  influences,  that  they  will  be  imwilling  to  be  members  of  the  ^ 

same  church? — or  indeed  of  any  spiritual  church?  \ 

An  excellent  minister,  who  has  been,  for  several  years,  the  pastor  ;; 

of  a  wealthy  church  in  one  of  our  large  cities,  recently  informed  me,  \ 

that  young  persons,  under  deep  religious  impressions,  had  frequently  \ 

called  to  converse  with  him,  who,  in  consequence  of  their  exceeding  | 

fondness  for  dancing  and  their  consequent  unwilHngness  to  give  it  up,  \ 

had  returned  to  the  world  and  become  as  thoughtless   as  before.  \ 


18  A    DISCOURSE 


Multitudes  who  never  converse  ^nth  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  succeed 
in  stifling  their  convictions  in  view  of  the  same  temptation. 

Perhaps  it  will  be  said,  our  children  will  have  no  inclination  to 
dance,  when  they  become  settled  in  life.  Do  you,  then,  expect 
them  to  continue  unconverted,  till  their  youth  is  past?  Is  it  not  the 
solemn  duty  of  pious  parents  to  seek  the  conversion  of  their  children 
in  early  youth?  Is  it  not  written  —  "Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes 
and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise?  "  But  what  if  they  die  in 
the  bloom  of  youth,  in  the  midst  of  that  gaiety  and  levity  which  you 
think  maturer  years  will  lead  them  to  abandon?  WTiy  do  even 
religious  parents  seem  to  forget,  that  youth  and  health  afford  no 
certain  protection  against  the  arrows  of  death  ?  And  how  awful  the 
death  of  one  whose  days  have  been  spent  in  giddy  thoughtlessness ! 
How  overwhelming  to  truly  pious  parents  to  have  a  child  die  thus! 

But  suppose  them  to  live  to  that  period,  when,  as  you  imagine, 
they  will  cease  to  take  pleasure  in  dancing ;  wdll  the  habits  early 
formed,  and  the  moral  impressions  made  on  their  minds,  be  easily 
eradicated  ?  God  has  said —  "  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  \ 
go,  and  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from  it."  Is  it  in  view  | 
of  this  divine  direction  that  religious  parents  have  their  children  j 
taught  to  dance,  and  encourage  them  to  attend  dancing  parties  and  I 
balls?  And  even  should  God,  notwithstanding  the  inconsistency  v 
and  unfaithfulness  of  their  parents,  turn  their  hearts  to  the  ways  of  \ 
wusdom,  will  not  early  habits  and  practices  add  to  the  number  of  | 
their  temptations?  I  beg  leave  here  to  quote  the  language  of  one  \ 
of  the  most  popular  female  writers  of  our  day  on  this  subject — I  \ 
mean,  Caroline  Fry.  "Surely,  if  these  parents  knew  how  the  images 
of  bygone  things  stay  by  the  imagination  when  the  heart  regrets  them ; 
how  they  pursue  us  in  our  devotions,  follow  us  to  the  very  presence 
of  our  Maker  —  disturb  our  prayers,  pollute  our  offerings,  mix  their 
unhallowed  images  with  our  visions  of  delight,  and  cross  every 
sunbeam  of  heavenly  consolation — surely  they  would  spare  to  stain 
the  young  memory  with  one  needless  image  of  forbidden  things.  | 
And  how  is  it  that  they  do  not  know  ?  When  I  think  of  these  things  | 
I  am  at  a  loss.  I  ask  myself,  if  it  is  possible,  that  one  believer's  \ 
heart  is  so  unlike  another's,  that  the  memory  of  folly  should  be  no  }. 
pain,  and  the  habit  of  sin  no  fetter,  and  earthly  associations  no  \ 
temptation."  | 

But  it  is  replied  to  all  this,  that  young  persons  desire  to  dance    | 
and  to  attend  balls ;    and  preventing  them  will  only  increase  their    \ 


ON  DANCING.  19 


anxiety  to  participate   in   them.      Then  why   restrain  them  in   any  ^ 

indulgence  they  may  desire  ?     Why  not  cease  to  exercise  parental  \ 

authority,  and  let  them  follow  their  own  inclinations  ?     You  say,  this  j 

is  carrying  the  thing  to  an  extreme.     It  is  only  carrying  out  your  ^ 

own  principles  ;  for  if  it  is  wise  and  right  to  restrain  your  children  \ 

from  improper  indulgencies  in  one  case,  why  not  in  another  ?     The  l 

principle  is  false.     Indulgence  in  that  which  is  improper,  especially  I 

in  that  which  affords    excitement  and  pleasure,  sharpening  the  appe-  \ 

tite,  increases  the  desire  for  it.     True — it  will  be  of  little  advantage  to  c 

prevent    your  children    dancing,    unless   you     give    them    reasons  \ 

for   so  doing ;    and  it  may  prove  positively  injurious  if,  whilst  you  s 

restrain  them,  you  declare  your  opinion  in  favor  of  it,  and  censure  ; 

the  Church  of  Christ  for  her  opposition  to  it.     But  restrain  them,  and  : 

assign  your  reasons ;  and  though  their  desire  to  participate  in  such  ^ 

amusements,    may   prevent   them    from    acknowledging   themselves  ; 

convinced;  they  will  yet,  to  some  extent,  feel  their  force,  and  will,  ^ 

in  years  to  come,  thank  you  for  your  firmness  and  fidelity.  < 

Another  objection  is  urged,  viz:  that  many  of  the  plays  and  much  / 

of  the  conversation  in  which  young  persons  engage,  when  they  meet  • 

together,  are  quite  as  objectionable  as  dancing ;  and  large,  fashionable  > 

parties  not  a  whit  less  so.     I  freely  admit,  that  the  foolish  play  and  ; 

silly   conversation   in  which  young  persons  sometimes   engage,  are  < 

objectionable,  and  that  christians,  young  and  old,  should  discounten-  > 

ance  them.     Nor  will  I  deny,  that  the  same  may  be  true  of  large,  ; 

fashionable  parties.     But  it  does  not  follow,  that  because  these  things  ; 

are  improper,  dancing  must  be  right.     It  is  not  admitted,  however,  \ 

that  they  are  as  injimous  either  to  health  or  religion,  as  dancing,  as  ■ 

now  conducted.     But  are  we  to  be  told,  that  young  persons,  properly  ; 

educated   and    trained,    cannot   spend   a   few  hours  together  in  the  I 

enjoyment  of   music,    or    rational  conversation,    but  that  they  must  I 

and  will  resort  to   something  that  is  foolish  or   wrong .''     What  an  ; 

imputation  to  cast  upon  the  children  of  pious  parents  !  -  It  cannot  be  \ 

so;  we  have  often  seen  it  otherwise.  l 

4. — It  is  an  objection  of  no  trifling  weight  to  dancing  parties  and  \ 

balls,  that    they  are   often   the    cause    of  most   unpleasant  feelings  5 

and  of  serious  difficulties.     Envy  and  jealousy  often  find  place  in  \ 
the  bosoms  of  the  dancers  ;    and  under  the  excitement  produced  by 

the  circumstances  and  by  the  wine  which  circulates  freely,  difficul-  ^ 

ties  arise,  which  chivalrous  young  gentlemen  feel  bound  to  settle  by  \ 


20  A    DISCOURSE 


a  duel,  or  in  some  equally  honorable  way  !     These  things  are  not  of  ^ 
unfrequent  occurrence.  I 

5. — But  suppose,  after  all,  you  are  not  convinced  that  it  is  wrong  I 
to  attend  dancing  parties,  and  to  have  your  children  taught  to  dance;  \ 
I  have  another  consideration  to  present,  which  must,  I  think,  have  \ 
weight  with  every  Christian.  You  will  agree  with  me,  that  the  great  I 
business  of  the  Christian's  life  is  to  do  good  in  the  chiu'ch  ;  "Whether.  \ 
therefore,  ye  eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  -of  \ 
God."  "  Ye  are  not  your  own ;  ye  are  bought  with  a  price;  there-  \ 
fore  glorify  God  in  your  body  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's."  \ 
The  text  and  context  are  in  point  here.  The  Christian,  as  we  have 
seen,  is  to  be  wholly  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God,  as  was  the  | 
sacrifice  on  the  Jewish  altar.  You  will  admit,  too,  that  they  who  I 
would  glorify  God  in  the  church,  must  be  able  to  exert  a  favorable  j 
influence  on  the  minds  of  men.  "  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  meriy  > 
that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  ^ 
in  heaven." 

Such  being  the  great  business  of  life,  has  the  Christian  the  right, 
for  any  amusement  either  for  himself  or  his  children,  to  destroy,  or 
seriously  to  diminish  his  power  to  do  that  work?  I  can  anticipate 
your  answer;  you  will  admit  that  he  has  not. 

Now  it  is  a  fact,  of  which  you  cannot  be  ignorant,  that  vast  num- 
bers of  serious  Christians,  the  large  majority  of  those  in  our  own 
church,  do  regard  attendance  upon  dancing  parties  and  balls,  and 
sending  children  to  dancing-schools,  as  wholly  inconsistent  with  a 
Christian  profession.  Nor  will  it  do  to  say,  that  such  objections 
come  only  from  the  ignorant  and  the  bigotted — from  those  who 
know  little  or  nothing  on  the  subject,  or  who  cannot  themselves  par-  I 
ticipate  in  those  refined  amusements.  They  come  from  multitudes  j 
of  the  wisest  and  best  members  in  our  church  and  in  other  churches;  I 
persons  who,  (at  least  many  of  them,)  have  danced  as  gracefully  and 
with  as  much  pleasure,  as  those  who  now  advocate  the  amusement. 
They  know  by  experience  the  evils  to  which  it  introduces  the  young, 
the  temptations  it  places  before  them,  and  the  obstacles  it  throws  in 
the  way  of  their  salvation. 

But  syppose  them  all  in  error  —  all  under  the  influence  of  mere 

prejudice.     Still  the  prejudice  exists  ;  it  is  very  extensive,  and  deeply 

fixed  ;  and  you  cannot  remove  it.     Now,  if  you  attend  dancing  parties, 

\    or  send  your  children  to  dancing  schools,  you  deeply   wound  the 

\    feelings  of  all  those  whom  you  perhaps  regard  as  weak  brethren,  and 


ON    DANCING.  21 


shake  their  confidence  in  your  piety.  Your  christian  influence  over  them 
is  thus  destroyed,  and  the  christian  fellowship  which  ought  to  exist 
between  you  and  them,  is  no  longer  enjoyed.  In  vain  would  you  tell 
them,  however  kindly,  of  a  fault  you  might  observe  in  them  ;  in  vain 
might  you  exhort  them  to  higher  attainments  in  piety,  or  seek  to 
comfort  them  in  affliction.     You  have  not  their  confidence. 

The  evil  extends  much  further.  There  are  not  a  few  unconverted 
persons  who  do  not,  and  never  will,  believe  that  christians  can 
consistently  practice  or  encourage  dancing ;  and  many  even  of  those 
who  are  most  anxious  to  have  it  recognised  by  the  church  as  innocent, 
have  the  same  convictions.  Dancing  occupies  a  kind  of  half-way 
ground  between  the  church  and  the  world,  seemingly  less  injurious  to 
religion,  than  the  theatre,  the  circus,  or  the  card-table,  and  is  therefore 
a  most  effectual  introduction  to  all  the  follies  of  the  world.  Hence 
the  desire  amongst  the  worldly  to  have  the  church  patronize  it,  or  at 
least  tolerate  it  as  innocent.  But  let  it  be  known,  that  a  professor  of 
religion  attends  the  dance,  or  has  his  children  taught  to  dance;  and 
he  has  lost  all  his  christian  influence  over  those  whose  convictions, 
secret  or  expressed,  are  such  as  I  have  mentioned.  In  vain  would  he 
attempt  to  point  them  to  the  Saviour,  and  urge  them  to  embrace 
religion.  They  doubt  or  wholly  disbelieve  his  piety,  and  are  disgusted 
with  his  apparent  zeal.  It  appears  to  them  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
hypocrisy. 

And  is  dancing  of  so  much  importance  to  you,  my  friends,  or  to 
your  children,  that  for  the  sake  of  enjoying  it,  you  Avill,  to  so  great  an 
extent,  destroy  your  usefulness  in  the  church  of  Christ?  Paul  would 
eat  no  meat  as  long  as  he  lived,  if  by  so  doing  he  should  cause  a 
brother  to  offend.  Even  politicians  carefully  avoid  exciting  the  preju- 
dices of  those  over  whom  they  would  exert  political  influence.  And 
cannot  you  give  up  dancing,  that  you  may  glorify  your  Redeemer,  and 
do  good  to  the  souls  of  men?  I  am  a  minister  of  the  gospel;  but  I 
am  as  deeply  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  my  country,  as  any  other 
man.  Suppose,  then,  I  give  notice  that  on  a  certain  day  of  this  week 
I  will  make  a  speech  in  some  pubhc  place,  in  favor  of  the  political 
doctrines  of  the  Whigs  or  the  Democrats,  as  my  convictions  may  be. 
Have  I  the  right  to  do  so  ?  Would  it  be  proper  ?  Every  member  of 
my  church,  I  am  persuaded,  would  condemn  such  a  course.  Why? 
I  may  say,  that  all  this  public  sentiment  against  ministers  who  make 
political  speeches,  is  an  unreasonable  prejudice — that  there  is  nothing 
in  the  Bible  to  sustain  it.     You  are  prepared  with  an  answer.     You 


22  ADISCOURSE 


tell  me  that,  right  or  \vrong,  the  prejudice  exists ;  and  that  it  would 
be  a  great  sin  for  me  to  injure  my  usefulness  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  for  the  sake  of  publicly  advocating  any  controverted  political 
principles.  I  admit  the  conclusiveness  of  your  reasoning.  Now 
apply  it  to  the  case  in  hand.  Has  an  elder,  a  deacon,  or  a  private 
member  of  the  church,  any  better  right  to  destroy  or  injure  his 
usefulness,  than  I  have  to  injure  mine  ?  His  position  in  the  church 
may  not  be  so  important  and  so  responsible  as  mine ;  but  if  he  have 
only  one  talent,  has  he  the  right  to  bury  that  ?  The  argument  appears 
to  me  conclusive. 

But  let  us  approach  a  little  nearer  the  subject  in  hand.  Suppose 
your  pastor  should  commence  attending  dancing  parties,  should 
occasionally  dance,  and  should  send  his  children  to  the  dancing-school ; 
would  you  regard  such  a  course  as  proper?  Would  you  desire  to 
continue  his  labors  among  you  ?  If  there  is  no  harm  in  dancing,  why 
should  not  he  dance  ?  Does  not  he  need  relaxation  ?  And  is  it  not 
quite  as  important  for  his  children  to  acquire  a  graceful  carriage,  as 
for  the  children  of  his  people  ?  Yet  you  would  condemn  in  him  such 
a  course.  You  would  insist,  that  he  has  no  right,  for  the  sake  of  this 
amusement,  or  even  for  the  purpose  of  having  his  children  walk 
gracefully,  to  cripple  his  usefulness  in  the  church.  Your  reasoning  is 
sound.  Apply  it  to  your  own  case;  and  you  will  never  attend  a 
dancing-party,  nor  send  your  children  to  a  dancing-school. 

6  —  Finally,  when  an  individual  voluntarily  unites  himself  to  a 
society  of  any  kind,  knowing  its  rules  and  making  no  objections  to 
them,  he  stands  pledged,  so  long  as  he  continues  to  hold  his  member- 
ship, to  regard  those  rules.  If,  then,  after  having  secured  a  standing 
as  a  member,  he  begins  to  -condemn  one  or  all  of  them  as  unwise 
and  improper,  and  to  disregard  them ;  he  is  justly  chargeable  with 
having  practiced  deep  deception,  and  with  dishonorably  violating  an 
expressed  or  implied  pledge  ;  —  a  pledge  without  which  he  would  not 
have  been  received.  Now  it  is  well  known,  that  the  Presbjierian 
church  has  ever  regarded  dancing,  and  having  children  taught  to  dance, 
as  inconsistent  with  a  christian  profession,  and  has  by  her  rules  excluded 
those  chargeable  with  such  conduct.  Particular  churches  may  have 
neglected  to  enforce  her  discipline ;  but  yet  her  principles  have  been 
well  known.  Those  who  have  joined  the  church,  have  sought 
admission,  knowing  her  rules,  aware  of  her  opposition  to  worldly 
amusements,  and  most  solemnly  promising,  virtually  or  expressly,  to 
regard  them  strictly,  and  thus  to  seek  the  peace,  as  well  as  the  purity, 


ON    DANCING.  23 


of  the  church.  Now  how  can  they,  without  being  chargeable  with 
conduct  which  no  christian  will  defend,  trample  the  rules  of  the  church 
under  foot,  disturb  its  peace,  and  set  at  defiance  its  constituted 
authorities?  I  would  most  solemnly  press  this  question  upon  the 
conscience  of  every  Presbjlerian  w^ho  hears  me,  and  who  ( if  there  be 
any  such  present )  patronizes  dancing. 

I  hold,  that  all  Presbyterians  are  most  solemnly  bound  so  long  as 
they  occupy  a  place  in  the  church,  to  abstain  from  every  thing  of  the 
kind,  and  to  honor  and  sustain  her  discipline.  For  it  cannot  be 
brought  into  contempt  or  disregard  in  one  particular,  without  losing 
its  moral  power  in  all  others,  Wlienever  one  law  of  the  land  is 
disregarded  with  impunity,  the  government  is  greatly  weakened. 
Those  Christians  who,  relying  on  their  high  standing  in  society,  seem 
to  defy  the  pubhc  sentiment,  and  the  discipline  of  the  church, 
certainly  know  not  what  they  do.  They  pursue  a  course  which  the 
church  of  Christ  can  never  safely  permit. 

My  friends,  we  are  moving  on  rapidly  to  eternity.  The  time  is 
short ;  and  we  have  a  great  work  to  do.  We  have  no  time  to  loiter 
by  the  way — no  time  to  turn  aside  to  enjoy  the  vain  amusements  of  a 
thoughtless  world.  We  shall  feel  this  truth  on  our  dying  bed.  When 
the  light  of  eternity  begins  to  break  upon  the  mind,  we  shall  see 
many  things  in  a  new  light.  We  shall  be  amazed  at  the  manner  in 
which  we  spent  many  of  our  precious  hours  and  days;  —  amazed  at 
the  indifference  with  which  we  now  mingle  with  the  unconverted  who 
are  in  danger  of  eternal  death  ; —  amazed  that  these  vain  amusements 
should  have  had  power  to  tempt  us  for  a  moment.  Let  us  now  look 
at  these  things  in  the  clear  light  of  God's  word.  Let  us  redeem  the 
time,  because  the  days  are  evil.  Let  it  be  our  effort  and  prayer  to 
"walk  worthy  of  the  vocation  wherewith  we  are  called." 

Let  me  address  myself  to  the  young  professors  of  religion  in  the 
audience.  My  young  friends,  it  was  but  the  other  day,  you  professed 
to  choose  Jesus  as  your  Savior,  and  his  service  as  the  business  and  the 
joy  of  your  life.  You  solemnly  renounced  the  world  and  all  its 
vanities,  the  emptiness  of  which  you  professed  to  have  seen ;  and  in 
the  awful  name  of  the  adorable  Trinity,  the  water  of  purification,  the 
seal  of  his  covenant  was  applied  to  you.  Thus  were  you  conse- 
crated to^  his  service  exclusively  and  forever.  Then  you  sat, 
with  hearts  heaving  with  deep  emotion,  at  the  table  of  your  Savior ; 
and  with  his  children,  over  the  emblems  of  his  broken  body  and  shed 
blood,  swore  eternal  allegiance  to  him.     Can  you  so  far  forget  those 


S5-' 


24  A    DISCOURSE   ON   DANCING. 


solemn  scenes,  and  so  far  disregard  your  solemn  promises  as  to  mingle 
ao-ain  in  the  giddy  dance,  to  your  own  injury,  to  the  reproach  of  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  the  triumph  of  those  who  anxiously  look  for  your 
hahing?  Will  you  not  now  serve  God  more  faithfully,  and  make  it  your 
daily  business  to  let  your  light  shine  before  men  ?  Will  you  not  persuade 
your  gay  companions  to  abandon  their  follies  and  go  with  you,  instead 
of  coniirming  them  in  their  ruinous  course  by  again  uniting  ^vith  them? 
Will  you  harden  their  hearts  by  giving  them  reason  to  say,  you 
are  no  better  than  they  ?  I  cannot  but  hope,  and  believe,  that  you 
are  truly  converted  to  God ;  and  if  you  are,  you  will  walk  circum- 
spectly toward  them  without,  and  endeavor  prayerfully,  by  a  consistent 
walk,  to  adorn  the  profession  you  have  made,  and  to  win  them  to 
Christ. 

Need  I  say  a  word  more  to  professing  parents }  Remember,  my 
friends,  your  covenant  to  train  up  your  children  for  God  and  for 
heaven.  Set  them  such  an  example,  so  train  them,  that  when  you 
on  your  dying  bed  bid  them  adieu,  you  may  have  nothing  to 
regret.  Seek  their  speedy  conversion  to  God,  first  and  above  all, 
and  other  things  in  subordination  to  this  great  object. 

My  unconverted  friends,  I  cannot  wonder  that  many  of  you, 
especially  the  young,  are  pleased  with  the  world's  exciting  pleasures; 
but  most  sincerely  do  I  desire  for  you  more  enduring  and  more 
exalted  enjoyment.  Abandon  those  things  which  an  inspired  man  of 
extensive  experience  pronounced  "  vanity  of  vanities,"  and  the 
utter  emptiness  of  which  a  very  little  reflection  will  enable  you  to  see. 
"Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,"  and  in  his 
service  and  the  glorious  ho*pes  imparted  by  his  grace,  w-e  promise 
you  real,  elevated,  enduring  happiness.  The  religion  of  Christ  is  not 
a  gloomy  religion.  Far  from  discouraging  cheerfidness,  it  lays  a 
foundation  not  for  cheerfulness  only,  but  for  the  most  exalted  and 
imperishable  happiness — a  happiness  which  will  not  forsake  you 
when,  in  the  decline  of  life,  you  can  no  longer  participate  in  the  vain 
pleasures  with  which  the  world  tempts  you.  "  Godliness  is  profitable 
unto  all  things ;  having  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of 
that  which  is  to  come."  He  who  lives  as  a  rational,  immortal  being — 
who  lives  for  eternity  —  will  have  little  to  regret  in  the  retrospect  of 
life ;  and,  washed  in  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ,  he  will  have  nothing 
to  fear  in  the  eternal  fiirture. 


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